My poor old Sony Vaio recently died and it was time to upgrade anyway, so I went computer shopping. To my dismay it was hard to find a laptop with a 17 inch screen, and for some reason almost every brand has moved the mouse pad way over to the left, so that it's "centered below the non-numeric part of the keyboard" (stupid).

I was very skeptical when they kept trying to sell me an Asus or Acer since I don't trust new brands that I've never heard of, but after a lot of convincing ("they've been making all the parts for the well-known brands for YEARS" etc) i bought what they considered to be the top of the line beast of the entire store; an Asus with an i7 processor, a whopping 16GB of ram, back-lit keyboard, the best graphics card on the market, a new back and front fan system (as opposed to below) etc etc.

I have now tried it and I hate it. The screen has washed out black and a slight purple tone which sucks big time if you want to edit photos like me, and the speakers sound like they're on the other side of a wall. WTF is the point of having mad processing power if the audio and the video are crap? It makes me angry that they sold it to me, and I'm angry with myself for not buying a well-known brand like I usually do.

What PC brands do you like? What would you recommend to me (I'll try to return this one tomorrow)?

AND PLEASE: NO MAC PEOPLE ON THIS THREAD. I DON'T WANT IT TO TURN INTO THE USUAL MAC VS. PC NONSENSE. THANKS!

my preference...

NEW!!!

i just got this used DELL 4600c

i think it may be older than you

Acer is good.

I bought an HP desk top when my used computer died after 3 months of use.

Get brand new

Oh, just to clarify: when I wrote that I don't trust new brands, I literally meant new brands, not new computers. New computers are what I always get! As for the brands, Acer and Asus are both relatively new on the market and haven't been making computers for a very long time, and as shown by my Asus they still have a lot of kinks to work out.

KingBAD said:

my preference...

NEW!!!

i just got this used DELL 4600c

i think it may be older than you

Yeah, I would really hesitate to get a used computer. And I would NEVER sell one of my used computers. Who knows how much porn and private files the new owner could dig up with the right tools, lol.

luv4u said:

Acer is good.

I bought an HP desk top when my used computer died after 3 months of use.

Get brand new

What's good about it, in your opinion? I take it you don't have any audio or video issues? I think most people wouldn't have any problems with my new Asus, it's just that I've been spoiled with my old excellent Sony screen and speakers.

By the way, do you guys think the store will take back my computer tomorrow? After all I have opened the box and every bag inside, installed Skype and MS Office, and changed a few of the settings. I'm getting nervous now that I'll be stuck with this piece of crap.

I bought an HP last year (15 inch) and I like it a lot. Reminds me of a Macbook, actually, in its construction. It is a DC 3 or something? I think maybe they don't make them anymore, but they make something similar.

My GF bought a 17 inch Dell, and it is very nice as well. The mouse buttons are softer than on mine, but I actually never use them anyway, I tap the pad instead and use the two-finger scroll. Hers has a more normal keyboard, mine has the Apple style buttons, which takes a minute to get used to.

Hers has a 10-key number pad, which is good for her because she is an accountant. I got the smaller one for portability.

Both of them have the pad in the center, but I think hers is more left because of the 10 key, which may be what you're describing.

Not crazy about either screen. They certainly suck compared to my iMac and my Dell desktop. Hers may be slightly better, but maybe only because it is bigger. Speakers are nothing to write home about.

Having used both, I like mine a little better, but maybe that is because I want to like it better because it is mine.

I think they were both around $650 or so

retina said:

By the way, do you guys think the store will take back my computer tomorrow? After all I have opened the box and every bag inside, installed Skype and MS Office, and changed a few of the settings. I'm getting nervous now that I'll be stuck with this piece of crap.

most stores will take them back, but some have "restocking" fees

Most of these computers are probably manufactured by the same company.

NDRU said:

I bought an HP last year (15 inch) and I like it a lot. Reminds me of a Macbook, actually, in its construction. It is a DC 3 or something? I think maybe they don't make them anymore, but they make something similar.

My GF bought a 17 inch Dell, and it is very nice as well. The mouse buttons are softer than on mine, but I actually never use them anyway, I tap the pad instead and use the two-finger scroll. Hers has a more normal keyboard, mine has the Apple style buttons, which takes a minute to get used to.

Hers has a 10-key number pad, which is good for her because she is an accountant. I got the smaller one for portability.

Both of them have the pad in the center, but I think hers is more left because of the 10 key, which may be what you're describing.

Not crazy about either screen. They certainly suck compared to my iMac and my Dell desktop. Hers may be slightly better, but maybe only because it is bigger. Speakers are nothing to write home about.

Having used both, I like mine a little better, but maybe that is because I want to like it better because it is mine.

I think they were both around $650 or so

Thanks! Lots of info there.

No wonder it's your girlfriend who wants more inches.

I guess it takes an accountant to appreciate the num pad. In all my years of using laptops I don't think I've EVER used mine. It's just a nuisance and I'd be happy to get rid of it.

Both HP and Dell are good in my opinion. Classic brands with enough experience to build good stuff. But as you say, even the good brands generally have so-so screens and speakers. That's why I went with (and should have stayed with) Sony. They really are in a class of their own in that department. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that I don't really care about high processor capability if it's at the expense of visuals and audio. It's kind of like having a car with a V12 engine and the chassi and interior of an ´82 Beetle. It just wouldn't be enjoyable.

As for the price, I won't even give you a ball park of what they make us pay in Sweden. You'd have a heart attack.

Graycap23 said:

Most of these computers are probably manufactured by the same company.

LOL and if not, their parts definitely are

NDRU said:

retina said:

By the way, do you guys think the store will take back my computer tomorrow? After all I have opened the box and every bag inside, installed Skype and MS Office, and changed a few of the settings. I'm getting nervous now that I'll be stuck with this piece of crap.

most stores will take them back, but some have "restocking" fees

That gives me hope.

Graycap23 said:

Most of these computers are probably manufactured by the same company.

Well, I'm sure a lot of the components come from the same place. But there are a few significant differences as I described above.

retina said:

NDRU said:

I bought an HP last year (15 inch) and I like it a lot. Reminds me of a Macbook, actually, in its construction. It is a DC 3 or something? I think maybe they don't make them anymore, but they make something similar.

My GF bought a 17 inch Dell, and it is very nice as well. The mouse buttons are softer than on mine, but I actually never use them anyway, I tap the pad instead and use the two-finger scroll. Hers has a more normal keyboard, mine has the Apple style buttons, which takes a minute to get used to.

Hers has a 10-key number pad, which is good for her because she is an accountant. I got the smaller one for portability.

Both of them have the pad in the center, but I think hers is more left because of the 10 key, which may be what you're describing.

Not crazy about either screen. They certainly suck compared to my iMac and my Dell desktop. Hers may be slightly better, but maybe only because it is bigger. Speakers are nothing to write home about.

Having used both, I like mine a little better, but maybe that is because I want to like it better because it is mine.

I think they were both around $650 or so

Thanks! Lots of info there.

No wonder it's your girlfriend who wants more inches.

I guess it takes an accountant to appreciate the num pad. In all my years of using laptops I don't think I've EVER used mine. It's just a nuisance and I'd be happy to get rid of it.

Both HP and Dell are good in my opinion. Classic brands with enough experience to build good stuff. But as you say, even the good brands generally have so-so screens and speakers. That's why I went with (and should have stayed with) Sony. They really are in a class of their own in that department. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that I don't really care about high processor capability if it's at the expense of visuals and audio. It's kind of like having a car with a V12 engine and the chassi and interior of an ´82 Beetle. It just wouldn't be enjoyable.

As for the price, I won't even give you a ball park of what they make us pay in Sweden. You'd have a heart attack.

yes, and I think if you really need the power, you still need a desktop. Desktops are better in every way except for size.

but for my needs, which even includes some music editing, our average-powered laptops are definitely powerful enough.

Certainly enough to get on the internet, play games, skype, use Word, listen to music...

[Edited 12/14/11 13:30pm]

I'm waiting to see what you get in order to get some guidance for my OWN computer shopping experience in the near future.

PurpleJedi said:

I'm waiting to see what you get in order to get some guidance for my OWN computer shopping experience in the near future.

I can tell you right now that if they take back this Asus piece of shit, I'll buy a Sony Vaio with a 17 inch screen, i7 processor and Bluray burner (unless I get a better suggestion on this thread). I should have trusted my gut.

retina said:

PurpleJedi said:

I'm waiting to see what you get in order to get some guidance for my OWN computer shopping experience in the near future.

I can tell you right now that if they take back this Asus piece of shit, I'll buy a Sony Vaio with a 17 inch screen, i7 processor and Bluray burner (unless I get a better suggestion on this thread). I should have trusted my gut.

yeah if you were happy with the Sony, then that is the best recommendation you can get

NDRU said:

retina said:

I can tell you right now that if they take back this Asus piece of shit, I'll buy a Sony Vaio with a 17 inch screen, i7 processor and Bluray burner (unless I get a better suggestion on this thread). I should have trusted my gut.

yeah if you were happy with the Sony, then that is the best recommendation you can get

It's not perfect though. I just read that for some reason they've shrunk the screen to 16 1/3 inches, the mouse pad is way off to the left and my old one - after having worked perfectly for three years - started shutting down and giving me "high processor use" warnings while sounding like it was having a heart attack. And when I described these symptoms to the Sony sales guy he said that his Vaio had been doing that too.

Hopefully they addressed all known issues when they made the latest models. Reliablity is important.

I like our newish computer just fine (Dell tower something or other, about a year old)

but I can tell you that I think Windows 7 is a downgrade from XP. Don't like it much

retina said:

KingBAD said:

my preference...

NEW!!!

i just got this used DELL 4600c

i think it may be older than you

Yeah, I would really hesitate to get a used computer. And I would NEVER sell one of my used computers. Who knows how much porn and private files the new owner could dig up with the right tools, lol.

so that's where that came from

i thought i was sleep surfin

[img:$uid]http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac306/kingbad/15839_1148982777241_1607756070_3037.jpg[/img:$uid]

Step away from that piece of shit PC, it's so not user friendly and will be a constant drain on your pocket and will probably cause you to have a nervous brake down ....come to the mac.

i got this pc so i can be sure to get my

classes registered on time next week.

my laptop went the way of 'undrppable thangs'

it fall down an go BOOM!!!

funkmunki said:

Step away from that piece of shit PC, it's so not user friendly and will be a constant drain on your pocket and will probably cause you to have a nervous brake down ....come to the mac.

I was going 2 mention that.

funkmunki said:

Step away from that piece of shit PC, it's so not user friendly and will be a constant drain on your pocket and will probably cause you to have a nervous brake down ....come to the mac.

Bullshit! PCs are user-friendy. The real problem is the Microsoft Corporation......oops, I mean the Microsoft Plantation products has been total crap in the post-Window XP era.

Most PC users should stay with PCs. Just remove Windows and install Linux Mint, the most popular & most user-friendly Linux distro ever (yes, more so now than Ubuntu!).

TonyVanDam said:

funkmunki said:

Step away from that piece of shit PC, it's so not user friendly and will be a constant drain on your pocket and will probably cause you to have a nervous brake down ....come to the mac.

Bullshit! PCs are user-friendy. The real problem is the Microsoft Corporation......oops, I mean the Microsoft Plantation products has been total crap in the post-Window XP era.

Most PC users should stay with PCs. Just remove Windows and install Linux Mint, the most popular & most user-friendly Linux distro ever (yes, more so now than Ubuntu!).

you know you want one!...go on treat yourself...

[img:$uid]http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc404/funkmunki/apple.jpg[/img:$uid]

I had an Acer for a while and it gave me problems almost immediately I've had an HP laptop for a few months now and I like it very much

LionsAndTigers said:

I had an Acer for a while and it gave me problems almost immediately I've had an HP laptop for a few months now and I like it very much

I am really happy with my HP

If it were a car .....Why would you buy a Ford piece of shit, when for a few hundred bucks more you can get an Audi R8.

Other shit brands are available....

my dell laptop sucked! now i use a coby tablet, works great!